As announced on 17 October, the Scottish Government’s investment in arts and culture will increase, so that, in five years’ time, our investment will be £100 million higher than it is now. The Scottish Government will take decisions about the allocation of that funding in 2024-25 and in future years, subject to the outcome of the Scottish budget process and the associated approval by the Scottish Parliament.

Alexander Stewart is working hard to get me to give him a sneak preview of the budget process, which, unfortunately, I cannot do. The draft budget will be published later and will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny. It will be presented to Parliament on Tuesday 19 December. That date will be in Mr Stewart’s diary, no doubt, being only a few days after he performs with the Scottish Parliament choir.

First, I take the opportunity to thank Foysol Choudhury for his question and for putting on record the points that he makes about the use of sign language. He will appreciate that the question about what Creative Scotland provides funding for is for that organisation to answer. I would be more than happy to write to the member more generally about including sign language and about support for the deaf community in Scotland.

My last meeting with a representative of the UK Government was with the British ambassador to China in Beijing on 23 November, during my visit to China, which included promotional events on and around St Andrew’s day. Multiple events involving Scottish Government ministers and officials took place in China, the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Oslo, Brussels and London, and I thank everybody who was involved. It is worth noting that Irish ministers managed to attend St Patrick’s day events in 36 locations around the world.

I agree whole-heartedly. It is clearer than ever that independence is essential if we are to build a fairer and wealthier country and escape the failed Brexit-based Westminster economic model, which has given us the largest fall in living standards on record and the highest inflation in the G7, as well as high levels of inequality and poverty.

Our latest publication, “Social security in an independent Scotland”, sets out how independence would enable Scotland to take a new approach to social security that is designed to tackle poverty and build financial security.

The Scottish Government, through Creative Scotland, provides support to a number of cultural organisations in Scotland. In 2021-22, Creative Scotland awarded £23,629,887 through its regular, open and targeted funding to successful applications from individuals and organisations that are based in the Glasgow area.

Glasgow is, of course, also home to the national performing companies—namely, the National Theatre of Scotland, Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera—and to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Those issues are constantly under review. As I mentioned in my earlier answer, we have a list of national performing companies that are based in Glasgow—not elsewhere in Scotland. There is a mixed picture of how culture and the arts are funded and which organisations are based where. We need to ensure that there is coverage throughout Scotland and that there is equity.

Ivan McKee is absolutely right to draw attention to the fact that the museums in Glasgow are not just first class but world class. They deserve the support of people in Glasgow, and I know that they are already providing that support. I encourage people in the rest of Scotland who are looking for a great day out to visit Glasgow’s museums as well.

The Scottish Government fully values the importance of music to Scotland’s culture and recognises the role that venues play in supporting the talent pipeline.

The Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development met the Music Venue Trust on 20 September to discuss the challenges that grass-roots music venues face, as well as the proposal to develop a ticket levy. I recommended that the Music Venue Trust ask the cross-party group on music to convene an industry round table to discuss the proposal.

Mark Ruskell is absolutely right to highlight that new thinking is required about funding of culture and the arts. We have gone through a pivot point during the pandemic; there has been a change in social behaviours and there has been extreme distress in the arts and cultural sector. We acknowledge that and we have tried to support the sector through that difficult period.

Yes—one needs to look with great seriousness at the potential for additional and parallel funding streams, which is why the levy proposal is worthy of further consideration and should be looked at more closely.

Not only has that been the subject of discussions that my colleague held in September with the Music Venue Trust, but she met John Whittingdale to discuss that very issue.

If the number of venues across the country reduces, it should be of concern to absolutely everybody, and Creative Scotland is very seized of that. Our enterprise agencies, which have responsibility in the Highlands and Islands, the Borders and the rest of Scotland, are also very involved in that. If Mr Stewart has any particular insights or particular proposals to make, I am very happy to listen to them.